Focus on Exeter and East Devon

Residents of Exeter and East Devon have seen lengthy press coverage on the various developments occurring to the east of Exeter including the submission of the planning application for Skypark and prior to that, the much larger development of the new community, now dubbed ‘Cranbrook’.

Stepping back from the detail, the four major developments the new community, Skypark, the Intermodal freight facility and the Science Park are developments of regional and local significance. Exeter, along with places like Bristol and Plymouth for example, is clearly identified as a focus for growth at a regional level.

The new town of Cranbrook meets the need for additional housing in, what is hoped to be, a much more sustainable manner than endless extensions tacked onto the edge of existing towns and cities. The masterplan for the new community, of almost 3,000 dwellings, builds in self sufficiency, with retailing and employment opportunities for residents. Everyone involved accepts there will be movement between Exeter and Cranbrook. The proposed new railway station at Cranbrook, on the Exeter to Waterloo line, along with a high speed, high frequency bus service, should create good transport links to help that movement.. Travel by private car will be eased by the new Clyst Honiton bypass and key improvements to the functioning of junction 29 of the M5. These highway improvements are an integral part of the various developments and will be paid for by developers of the various schemes.

Skypark is a 37 hectare prestigious business park attracting new investment, It provide local firms a place for relocation and expansion as an alternaive to moving outside the Exeter area, taking their investment and jobs with them.

Accessed from the new Clyst Honiton bypass, 140,000 square metres of office and industrial floor space is proposed, with significant areas of open space. Linked to this proposal is the possibility of a new north side terminal building, should the new owners of the airport wish to relocate facilities from the existing location.

The Intermodal freight facility is located between the old A30 and the Exeter to Waterloo line and will help the movement of goods between road based and rail based transport. In short, getting long distance freight off the roads and onto the rail network.

Less advanced than the above three developments is the proposed Science Park. near junction 29 of the M5. It aims to build on the academic success of the University of Exeter.

For Exeter these are exciting times. Significant levels of investment will, one way or another, benefit residents of the city’s wider area. Building homes, creating jobs, retaining and attracting investment and improving the infrastructure will build on the current economic success of the Exeter area. It all bodes well for future generations.

Published 29/06/2007. The author of this article is Neal Jillings